Water, sewer rate hikes approvedThe Russellville City Council approved water and sewer rate increases proposed by City Corp. during Thursday’s regular meeting. Residents will see the new water and sewer rate increases on their next statements after April 1, City Corp. General Manager Steve Mallett said. The next step for the city’s water utility is to return to the council for approval of a bond ordinance that will establish guidelines for the proposed $71 million in bonds s...

Russellville City Council meeting agendaThe March meeting of the Russellville City Council will begin at 6 p.m. today in the second-floor council chambers at City Hall. The agenda includes the following items: • Financial Report. • Commission Appointments — Consider Mike Wilkins and Eric Westcott for the Board of Adjustment. • Mayor’s Report. • Department Report. • Committee Reports: • Finance Committee: Consider to use Van Horn Construction for Aquatic Center construction manager. ...

Giving cancer the bootCancer survivors participate Saturday evening in the annual Survivor's Lap during the 2015 Relay For Life held in the Cyclone gymnasium. This year's six-hour event featured activities and entertainment followed by the luminary ceremony and then closing ceremonies at 10:30 p.m.

'Freezin for a Reason' at Polar PlungePolar Plunge participants were “Freezin’ for a Reason” Saturday at Lake Dardanelle State Park. This year’s brave souls dived into cold waters in support of the annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Arkansas (SOAR), which is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round sports training and Olympic-type competition for adults with disabilities in Arkansas. More than 14,000 participate in training and compete in 20 sports in the year-long pr...

Russellville named Welcome to Arkansas Community of the YearLITTLE ROCK — Russellville was named Welcome to Arkansas Community of the Year at the 41st Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Texarkana. The Welcome to Arkansas program began in 2009 to increase visitors’ satisfaction with vacationing in Arkansas and improve customer service by arming front-line personnel with messages about their local community, region and state. Russellville joined the Welcome to Arkansas program in 2012. S...

Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee to take the stage in RussellvilleCountry music artists Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee will take the stage at The Center for The Arts in Russellville at 7 p.m. on May 1 as part of the “Urban Cowboy Reunion Tour.” “I’m looking forward to performing on May 1st in Russellville, Ark., with my sidekick Johnny Lee,” says Gilley. He said he plans to perform most of his 17 No. 1 songs that reached the top of the country music charts, including “Room Full of Roses” and “Don’t the Girls A...

Taber Extrusions could add up to 32 jobs with Tesla dealThe Russellville City Council approved a resolution Tuesday that will assist Taber Extrusions with an expansion that could mean an additional 32 jobs that would pay $34,000 annually. Mayor Randy Horton told aldermen during a special meeting that Taber has landed a new contract to build multiple parts for Tesla Motors, an electric automobile company in Palo Alto, Calif. Jeff Pipkin, Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) pres...

City council accepts plans for new local aquatic centerThe Russellville City Council voted 5-1 during Tuesday’s special meeting to accept the preliminary design plans by ETC in Little Rock for the aquatic center. Mayor Randy Horton said after Tuesday’s three meetings that ETC will begin working on a final design and might have it ready to begin bidding in three to four months. Alderman Mark Tripp was the only dissenting vote. In favor of accepting the preliminary design were Aldermen Larry Brown, ...

CASA of the 5th Judicial District to hold Meet and GreetCASA of the 5th Judicial District invites the public to attend a Meet and Greet at 6 p.m. on Thursday at The Journey, located at 3001 E. H St. in Russellville. CASA is currently looking for volunteers to serve in Pope County. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are local volunteers who are appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of abused and/or neglected children in foster care. Volunteers must be age 21 or older and pass a b...

Art talk, chances for custom painting at Art Walk tonightThe beat of Cuban music will be wafting out the doors of C&D Drug Store in historic downtown Russellville during the Art Walk, scheduled from 5-8 p.m. tonight. The public is invited to visit with local artist Jeannie Stone about her upcoming trip to Cuba, drink some fruity concoctions, admire art and have some fun. Stone is a Latina artist, who has lived in Arkansas 50 years. She will show several pieces of art and will offer chances to win an...

Personnel Committee wants to talk it overOne day after the Russellville City Council’s Finance Committee voted to recommend Van Horn Construction as manager of the aquatic center project, the city’s Personnel Committee said not so fast. Personnel Committee members voted 3-0 Thursday inside City Hall to review proposals from five construction companies, three of which are local. However, Alderman and Finance Committee Chairman Mark Tripp said Friday that Resolution No. 1446, which was...

Plans for 'My Buddies House' underwayWhen Fred Teague helped found The Russ Bus over two years ago, it was because he wanted to help area homeless obtain housing and employment. When the organization’s plan for a transitional living facility is complete, he and other volunteers will have provided exactly that. “In the early days it just started with a few of us,” Teague said. “First we were running just one homeless camp, then two camps and then three camps. When we found the nee...

Benefit ball raises $67,000 for community projectsThe Russellville Junior Auxiliary Children’s Benefit Ball, Cirque Gala, raised nearly $67,000 and was attended by more than 300 guests Saturday at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club. President Jennifer Samuels said the event was successful and well-received by the community. “We were thrilled with the turnout and dollars raised at the 2015 Children’s Benefit Ball,” Samuels said. “The support from the community for our organization has con...

Area man gets $100,000 bond after car chaseArkansas State Police (ASP) arrested a man who had bond set at $100,000 Friday morning for fleeing after a chase from Pope County into Yell County that reached speeds of over 100 mph. According to a report, Russellville police officers arrived at a location where Chad Thompson, 35, allegedly tried to pass a fraudulent prescription. They reportedly followed the suspect after he left Russellville on Main Street (U.S. Highway 64) to Pottsville, w...

Committee reviews draft ordinanceThe committee tasked with creating an ordinance to regulate mobile food vendors in Russellville reviewed a draft ordinance City Attorney Trey Smith prepared and nailed down some details during a meeting Thursday. All present committee members — Alderman Richard Harris, Planning Commissioners Mike Wilkins, Herschell Hargus and Doug Skelton, who is also a Pope County Justice of the Peace — agreed mobile food vendors should be allowed to stay in ...

Seasonal jobs bump unemployment rates Editor's note: The December 2014 figures in this article are according to preliminary figures released by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and is the most recent data available. All other figures are according to final figures released by DWS. The unemployment rate for Pope County in December 2014 was 5.5 percent, which was up slightly from November's 5.3 percent rate. In December, 1,650 people were without jobs out of the 2...

Cancer survivors celebrate at banquetNearly 100 people turned out for Saturday’s annual River Valley Relay For Life Survivor’s Banquet at the First United Methodist Church in Russellville. Daranda Golden, who is currently battling cancer, was this year’s guest speaker. Entergy sponsored the banquet and guests were treated to dinner donated by Tyson Foods, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Brown’s Catfish. Pianist Bruce Moore entertained guests throughout the evening. “The ...

Pottsville sirens to be ready by tornado seasonPOTTSVILLE — Mayor Jerry Williams told the Pottsville City Council during its regular meeting Monday that four tornado sirens the city purchased are scheduled to arrive in early March. During its Jan. 26 meeting, the council approved the purchase of the sirens for $79,800. "They'll start marking spots when [the sirens] come in," Williams said after the meeting. "It should take about three days to install." He said the sirens should be installe...

Russellville officers receive awardsThe Russellville Police Department handed out awards to seven officers for accomplishments in 2014 during a ceremony Wednesday. Two officers received the Meritorious Award — Detective Steve Barker and Detective Ricky Hendrix. The Meritorious Award is given for outstanding job accomplishment. Chief Jeff Humphrey said Barker was recognized for his "continuous and passionate commitment in investigating crimes against children." Humphrey said Hend...

RPD creates child-friendly interview roomThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) has transformed one of its three interview rooms into a child-friendly environment where young victims and witnesses can comfortably talk to police. Detective Steve Barker, who specializes in crimes against children, led the charge on creating the space. "After what these kids are going through — even going through the interview process — as comfortable as we can make them, the better. Why wouldn't we d...